My research aims to understand the mechanisms behind the rapid speciation processes that produce high species richness in specific areas. Combining classical taxonomy with an array of modern molecular techniques, my research focuses in three main, complementary lines: (i) understanding to what extent geological factors drive speciation using islands as models, (ii) characterizing the morphological variation associated with rapid diversifications, and (iii) studying how whole genome duplication facilitates adaptation to different environments

Current research

Subgenome evolution in Geum triflorum

Whole genome duplication or polyploidy is a common process in plants, but what happens to the genes after duplication? This project tries to answer this question by studying the allohexaploid Geum triflorum (Rosaceae) and assess if its subgenomes are differentially expressed accross different environments.

Micromeria in the Canary Islands

This project tries to understand the influence of the islands' geological history and inter-island colonization on the diversification of insular taxa using genus Micromeria (Lamiaceae) in the Canary Islands as an example.

Taxonomy of Calceolaria

I have been working on the taxonomy of genus Calceolaria L. (Calceolariaceae) since my undergraduate studies. Calceolaria is a diverse genus with ca. 250 species distributed from Central Mexico to Chile and Southern Argentina.